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Saturday, September 14th
When compared to other creatine retailers, i-Supplements is one of the worst contenders. They carry 33 results for creatine supplements, which is about average, but a little lower than some of the other companies in this review. However, since the site promises over 7,000 different health products, we were disappointed in how few products there were for creatine specifically. But, beyond creatine, i-Supplements offers powder, capsules, and even gummy options for supplements, which makes them competitive in terms of inventory despite the low number of individual listings.
Outdated, slow website
In terms of user experience, i-Supplements is an older-looking website and there aren't a lot of features that make it easy to browse. Customers are only able to see 12 items per page, and there's no way to expand this list - forcing customers to wait long loading times to move from page to page to browse the full list of inventory.
More filters would be nice
Additionally, there are very few filters to make finding your ideal product easier. You can add a minimum or maximum price, limit by rating, or by "other” which just allows you to see which products are "featured” or in stock, which at the time of this review was 32 out of the 33 total products. As an additional example, when we were working with the filters to compare i-Supplements prices with other companies, the site crashed and did not load any products.
Prices are higher-than-average
To compare the prices between i-Supplements and other retailers, we examined the cost of powder creatine supplements, capsule creatine supplements, and i-Supplements' proprietary brand supplements. For powder supplements, the prices ranged from $23.99 to $73.75. For tablets/capsules, the prices ranged from $15 to $73.75. As far as we could tell during our review, there are no proprietary supplements available from i-Supplements. While there are more expensive options out there, i-Supplements isn't the most competitive in terms of price.
Flat rate shipping but only for 2 lb packages
The company's shipping policy is also just average. i-Supplements offers a flat rate of $7.45 for its Super Saver shipping for any order under 2 pounds. For orders over 2 pounds, standard shipping rates will apply, which may be frustrating for customers who think they will get flat-rate shipping and are charged more later. The shipping method for Super Saver is either USPS, UPS, or FedEx, which is selected by the company. The website also offers a 10% discount on orders using the coupon code "info10" during checkout, however, this appears to be a one-time option.
Customers are responsible for return fees
On top of less-than-friendly shipping policies, i-Supplements also has a disappointing return policy. i-Supplements' return policy states that they do not accept returns on opened merchandise due to their low prices as a wholesaler. Unopened merchandise can be returned for exchange or credit within 30 days of purchase, with the customer responsible for all shipping charges and subject to a 20% restocking fee. No returns are allowed on special orders, and customers must contact i-Supplements before returning any items. Failure to do so will result in the package being marked "return to sender" and sent back. If a free shipping code was used, and the item is returned, the customer will be responsible for paying back the original shipping cost, which will be deducted from the credit.
Conflicting ratings
While i-Supplements has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and overall positive feedback on the store's social media channels, the company has almost no review presence on third-party review sites, which is suspicious. The few reviews out there range from 1-2 stars on average out of 5-star ratings, and customers generally are disappointed with the customer service at i-Supplements. Customers also complained about missing shipments and being charged on their credit cards for things they didn't buy. These concerns point to a lack of care for customers at i-Supplements and might mean shopping at one of our higher-rated options is better for your next creatine supplement purchase.
Not worth the trouble
In summary, i-Supplements doesn't stand out as a great option for supplement shopping. The prices are competitive, but shipping fees can be expensive, and with no protection for customers with shipping or returns, this company doesn't have a lot to recommend over other companies in this review. For these reasons, this is one of the lowest-rated supplement retailers for creatine supplements. If you're looking for a reliable shopping experience, check out some of the top-rated retailers instead.
Whether you're a hardcore gym rat trying to get "swole”, a hardcore athlete trying to build muscle for an upcoming meet, or if you just want a little extra definition in your quads after spin classes, you've probably heard of creatine. This substance occurs naturally in muscle cells and is one of the few nutritional supplements that is regularly recommended by personal trainers, sports nutritionists, and experienced athletes alike.
Creatine supplementation has been shown to increase muscle mass, strength, and power in athletes, particularly in short-term, high-intensity exercise. It may also improve recovery time and reduce muscle damage and soreness after exercise. It supports your gains through three amino acids: L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine.
Around 95% of creatine in the body is stored in skeletal muscle, where it is used to provide energy during short bursts of intense activity such as weightlifting, sprinting, or jumping. The remaining 5% of creatine is stored in the brain, kidneys, and other organs. Creatine has been repeatedly demonstrated to deliver improvements in muscle mass, power, and strength with little to no side effects.
While anyone can enjoy the benefits of creatine, it can be particularly essential for vegetarians who lift weights, as meat is the most common natural source of creatine. However, even for those who consume meat, it can be challenging to eat enough to get the amount of creatine necessary for building muscle. In small doses (3-5 grams of creatine per day), most athletes see significant gains in a short period of time.
Interestingly, creatine has been shown to have additional health benefits beyond muscle gains. For example, some studies have shown that creatine supplements can improve many neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. Since 5% of creatine is stored in the brain, this could be a reason why it can have positive effects on neurological functions.
If you're looking to add creatine to your workout regimen, keep in mind that not all creatine products and retailers are equal. When deciding which creatine supplier to choose, you should consider factors such as product quality, safety, and pricing. By keeping these criteria in mind, you can ensure that you are getting the best creatine supplements at the most reasonable prices from a trustworthy retailer.
If you're still not sure where to start, don't worry. We've created this list of key factors that might help you narrow down the many options for buying creatine:
To help you find the best support for your gym sesh, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best creatine supplement retailers on the market today. Now you can focus on getting those gains with the best creatine supplement for your needs.
Select any 2 Creatine Supplement Stores to compare them head to head